SEATTLE — Logan Gilbert allowed two pitched runs through the sixth inning to reach the season's 200-strikeout mark, JP Crawford had a key two-out RBI single as part of Seattle's three-run first inning and the Mariners beat the New York Yankees 3-2 on Thursday.

Seattle salvaged itself in the final game of the series to stay on the edge of the playoff race, coming within two games of Minnesota and Detroit to secure the final wild-card spot in the American League before a six-game road trip to Texas and Houston.

“I don't think we're too focused on what's coming up in terms of the standings,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “I think we're looking at what we need to do every night, every day. Today we needed to win. We did that.”

A day after clinching a postseason berth, the Yankees' lead in the AL East shrank to four games following Baltimore's win and a seventh-inning scare from star outfielder Juan Soto.

Soto slid into the short wall in the foul zone on the right sideline while making a spectacular catch. After a lengthy visit from manager Aaron Boone, athletic trainers and seemingly every one of his teammates, Soto stayed in the game and shook out his left leg.

The play was initially ruled a foul ball, but on replay it was ruled a catch.

“I think it was good for him to slide like that. My biggest fear was that he twisted something, and I think sliding like that helped him a little bit,” Boone said. “He banged up his knee pretty bad. We're going to do X-rays to be sure, but right now it looks like he's OK.”

Seattle did all its damage in the first inning against Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt, loading the bases with one out. Justin Turner hit a fly ball far enough for Julio Rodríguez to score, but left fielder Jasson Domínguez botched the catch and Seattle ended up scoring two unearned runs. Jorge Polanco added a sacrifice fly and Crawford's single capped the big inning.

Schmidt (5-4) calmed down after the rough first inning and allowed just two hits in the next four innings, striking out seven times and allowing three.

“The control was definitely not there. Of course, I'm really happy with how we came back after the first inning. The outing was tough,” Schmidt said.

Gilbert (8-11) had nine strikeouts in his 5 1/3 innings and has 207 this season, making him the ninth pitcher in team history to reach that mark. Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth inning for his 22nd save.

Gilbert, who was moved up a day to pitch against the Yankees, threw with a lot of traffic but avoided big innings, needing a total of 45 pitches to get through the fourth and fifth innings – the latter of which included an extra batter after a wild pitch strikeout allowed Jazz Chisholm Jr. to reach first base.

Despite the many basepaths, Gilbert's only error was Chisholm's 23rd home run, a two-run shot in the third inning, and he was helped by Luke Raley, who threw out Domínguez as he attempted to score from second base, making the last out of the second inning.

“It felt like a big game, a big series. Obviously they're a good team over there and every game is hugely important to us. We absolutely had to win today. We just tried to give ourselves a chance,” Gilbert said.

FEAR OF INJURY

Yankees relief pitcher Jake Cousins ​​​​took over in the sixth inning, but lasted only two batters and six pitches due to tightness in his right pectoral muscle. He was subbed out after striking out Rodríguez, and his velocity had dropped significantly on all of his pitches.

“We don’t think it’s that bad,” Boone said.

Next

Yankees: New York travels to Oakland for the final time on Friday. RHP Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.97) will start the opening game against the A's.

Mariners: Seattle begins its final road trip in Texas on Friday against the Rangers. RHP George Kirby (12-11, 3.62) starts the opener.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb